Usb connector conversion device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a USB connector converting device adapted for connecting a USB equipment having USB plug to an external unit through a USB cable in conformity with the USB standard, which is connected to a USB equipment ( 23 ) having a first USB (Universal Serial Bus) plug ( 21 ) serving as data input/output interface to and from an external unit ( 100 ). The USB connector converting device ( 10 ) comprises a first USB jack to which the first USB plug ( 21 ) is connected, and a second USB jack to which a second USB plug ( 32 ) that a USB cable ( 30 ) connected to the external unit has is connected, wherein the first USB jack and the second USB jack are electrically connected.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a USB equipment using USB (UniversalSerial Bus) as interface, and more particularly to a USB connectorconverting device for converting shape of connector of USB in USBequipment.

This Application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No.2003-020998, filed on Jan. 29, 2003, and Japanese Patent Application No.2003-334014, filed on Sep. 25, 2003, the entireties are incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND ART

USB is widely popularized as interface with external peripheralequipments of PC (Personal Computer). As USB equipment using USB asinterface, various USB devices are proposed, and are actually used.

Among these USB devices, recording media provided with USB as interfacewith PC have file system at the recording media to have ability toperform management of data by the file system, and to have excellentportability. From this fact, it is expected that such recording mediawill be widely popularized as new media. Such recording media providedwith USB as interface with PC perform data transmission/reception to andfrom PC through USB.

Meanwhile, in apparatuses adapted for handling personal information suchas PC, a fingerprint collation apparatus adapted for performingfingerprint collation to thereby perform certification of user to permituse of the apparatus is proposed in the Japanese Patent Application LaidOpen No. 2000-182025 publication.

This fingerprint collation apparatus is caused to be of theconfiguration in which a sensor unit for reading fingerprint informationis separated from a collation processing unit for collating thefingerprint information which has been read by the sensor unit toconnect both units by a predetermined interface cord to thereby realizeuser certification processing by fingerprint collation at a positionremote from the PC. In view of the above, there is proposed a method inwhich the above-described recording media are caused to havecertification processing function by bioinformation to use suchcertification processing function for user certification of PC tothereby use the recording media as security device in using PC.

In general, USB device using USB as interface is connected to a PCserving as host equipment through USB cable. By control of the hostequipment, power is supplied from the host equipment, or datacommunication is executed between the USB device and the host equipment.

For allowing the above-described recording media, etc. to be mediahaving excellent portability, those recording media have theconfiguration such that they can be directly connected to USB jack thatthe PC has without intervention of the USB cable. Namely, recordingmedia have the configuration provided with USB plug adapted to be USBjack that the PC has as the USB connector.

However, there are instances where it becomes very difficult to utilizeUSB jack that the PC has depending upon (machine) type of the PC and/orplace where PC body provided with USB jack is installed (provided), etc.For example, in the desktop PC of the tower type, in the case where theUSB jack is located at the rear surface of the PC body, and/or in thecase such that there is limitation in the environment where user places(installs) PC so that USB jack is disposed at the position where the USBdevice cannot be connected, USB device provided with USB plug could notbe utilized unless the USB cable is used.

Moreover, recording media caused to have, e.g., fingerprint collationprocessing function as certification processing function bybio-information are required to put finger with respect to fingerprintsensor of the corresponding recording medium which has been directlyconnected to PC. For this reason, there is the problem such that the USBconnector of PC is damaged by pressing of finger, there is the problemsuch that since position of the USB jack is different in dependency upon(machine) type of PC, there may exist PCs of the structure in which itis impossible to put finger onto the fingerprint sensor, and there isthe problem such that even in the case where finger can be put, it isimpossible to perform precise collation processing.

In order to avoid such problems, it is required for permitting useposition of the USB device to be freely changed to perform connectionwith the PC by the USB cable as described above.

However, since both ends of the USB cable have plug shape in the USBstandard, it is impossible to connect USB device having USB plug and PCthrough USB cable.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel USB connectorconverting device which can solve problems that prior arts as describedabove have.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a USB connectorconverting device which permits connection to external equipment throughUSB cable in the USB equipment having USB plug.

The USB connector converting device according to the present inventionis directed to a USB connector converting device adapted for connectingto a USB equipment having a first USB (Universal Serial Bus) plugserving as data input/output interface to and from an external unit,which comprises a first USB jack to which a first USB plug is connected,and a second USB jack to which a second USB plug that a USB cableconnected to the external unit has is connected, wherein the first USBjack and the second USB jack are electrically connected.

Another USB converting device according to the present invention isdirected to a USB connector converting device adapted to be connected toportable recording media, including a first USB (Universal Serial Bus)plug serving as data input/output interface to and from an externalunit, memory means for performing management of data by a predeterminedfile system to store the data, and bio-certification processing meansfor performing certification processing by bio-information, whichcomprises a first USB jack to which the first USB plug is connected, anda second USB jack to which a second USB plug that a USB cable connectedto the external unit has is connected, wherein the first USB jack andthe second USB jack are electrically connected.

The USB connector converting device according to the present inventionpermits the external unit and the USB equipment to be connected throughthe USB cable, thereby making it possible to easily connect the USBequipment having first USB plug in which connection to the external unithas been difficult to the external unit through a normal USB cabledetermined by the standard.

Moreover, the USB connector converting device according to the presentinvention is adapted to connect the first USB plug of the USB deviceinto the first USB jack in carrying USB device, thereby making itpossible to protect the exposed first USB plug.

Further, the USB connector converting device according to the presentinvention is provided with a first USB jack connected to a first USBplug that each recording medium has is connected, and a second USB jackto which a second USB plug that USB cable connected to the external unithas is connected, thus making it possible to connect the external unitand each recording medium through USB cable in performingbio-certification by bio-certification processing means of eachrecording medium. Accordingly, at the time of certification processingby bio-certification processing means of each recording medium, itbecomes easy to dispose the recording medium at an arbitrary position.For this reason, precise bio-certification processing can be executed.In addition, the USB cable is used, thereby making it possible toprevent damage of USB interface of the external unit, which takes placein the case where corresponding medium is directly connected to theexternal unit to execute bio-certification processing.

Still further objects of the present invention and practical meritsobtained by the present invention will become more apparent from thedescription of the embodiments which will be given below with referenceto the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the state where recording medium isdirectly connected to PC.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the configuration of the recordingmedium.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the configuration of recording mediumhaving only storage function.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the configuration of recording mediumhaving a function to load memory card.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the state where USB connectorconverting device according to the present invention is used to connectthe recording medium and the PC through USB cable.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing USB cable.

FIG. 7A is a plan view showing the USB connector converting deviceaccording to the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a side view thereof.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing outer appearance of USB jackcomplying with (corresponding to) A type plug that the USB connectorconverting device has, and FIG. 8B is a front view showing pluginsertion hole of the USB jack.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing outer appearance of USB jackcomplying with B type plug that the USB connector converting device has,and FIG. 9B is a front view thereof.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing outer appearance of USB jackcomplying with Mini-A type plug that the USB connector converting devicehas, and FIG. 10B is a front view showing plug insertion hole of the USBjack.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing outer appearance of the USB jackcomplying with Mini-B type plug that the USB connector converting devicehas, and FIG; 11B is a front view showing plug insertion hole of the USBjack.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view showing outer appearance of USB jackcomplying with Mini-A type plug and Mini-B type plug that the USBconnector converting device has, and FIG. 12B is a front view showingplug insertion hole of the USB jack.

FIG. 13A is a plan view in the case where stabilization table isprovided at the USB connector converting device according to the presentinvention, FIG. 13B is a side view in the case where first stabilizationtable is provided at the USB connector converting device, and FIG. 13Cis a side view in the case where second stabilization table is providedat the USB connector converting device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The USB connector converting device according to the present inventionwill now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

First, prior to explanation of the USB connector converting deviceaccording to the present invention, USB device which is adapted toconnect the connector converting device will be explained.

As the USB device, there is mentioned, e.g., a recording medium 20 asshown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording medium 20 can be used by inserting aUSB plug 21 that the recording medium 20 has into a USB jack 101 that aPC (Personal Computer) 100 has. In the case where the recording medium20 is used as data storage, the recording medium 20 is directlyconnected into the PC 100 in this way.

At the upper surface of the recording medium 20, a fingerprint readingsensor 23 for detecting fingerprint information of finger is provided asshown in FIG. 1. Thus, as described later, the recording medium 20 ispermitted to be used as a fingerprint collation processing unit.

The configuration of the recording medium 20 will be explained withreference to FIG. 2.

The recording medium 20 comprises a USB plug 21, a USB controller 22, afingerprint reading sensor 23, a LSI (Large Scale Integration) 24 forfingerprint collation, a flash memory 25, a RAM/ROM (Random AccessMemory/Read Only Memory) 26 for program, and a CPU (central ProcessingUnit) 27.

The USB controller 22, the fingerprint collation LSI 24, the flashmemory 25, the program RAM/ROM 26, and the CPU 27 are respectivelyconnected through a bus 28.

The USB plug 21 is a plug for connecting to equipment of the host side,which is generally called A type plug (or series A plug). The USB plug21 may be also Mini-A type plug prescribed by USB On-TheGo (OTG) whichis the standard for directly connecting USB devices, which is institutedby the USB-IF (Universal Serial Bus Implementers Forum). The Mini—A typeplug has a shape smaller than that of the A type plug, and is a plug forconnecting to equipments of the host side in the same manner as statedabove.

The USB controller 22 controls, on the basis of the USB protocol, datatransfer between the PC 100 and the recording medium 20, which isperformed through the USB plug 21.

The fingerprint reading sensor 23 is a sensor for reading mountain andvalley of fingerprint, i.e., convex and concave (uneven) portions offingerprint of finger which is mounted or put on the fingerprint readingsensor 23.

For example, the fingerprint reading sensor 23 detects uneven portionsof fingerprint by the electrostatic capacity system to generatetwo-dimensional image. At the fingerprint reading sensor 23 of theelectrostatic capacity system, electrodes are disposed at 80 μm pitchwhich is sufficiently finer than pitch of the uneven portions offingerprint. The fingerprint reading sensor 23 detects uneven portionsof fingerprint and quantity of charges (electrostatic capacity) stored(accumulated) between the electrodes. Since detected electrostaticcapacity is low at the concave portion of fingerprint and electrostaticcapacity is high at the convex portion of fingerprint, two-dimensionalimage representing concave and convex (uneven) portions of fingerprintis generated from the electrostatic capacity difference.

It is to be noted that the fingerprint reading sensor 23 is not limitedto the fingerprint reading sensor of the electrostatic capacity systemas described above, but may be also fingerprint reading sensor of theoptical system, the pressure sensitive system and/or the thermalsensitive system. Fingerprint reading sensors of any detection systemcapable of detecting two-dimensional image indicating concave and convex(uneven) portions of fingerprint may be also employed.

At the time of fingerprint collation processing, the fingerprintcollation LSI 24 serves to read out template data in which only featureportions of fingerprint image which have been stored in advance in theflash memory 25 have been extracted to perform comparative collationbetween firigerprint image which has been detected by the fingerprintreading sensor 23 and the template data which has been read out. Theresult obtained by comparative collation at the fingerprint collationLSI 24 is notified to the CPU 27.

In the flash memory 25, there is stored template data which isfingerprint information serving as reference used in fingerprintcollation processing are used. In the case where fingerprint collationprocessing using the recording medium 20 is executed, user is requiredto register, in advance, fingerprint information of user himself in theflash memory 25. Fingerprint information to be stored into the flashmemory 25 are template data in which feature portions of fingerprintimage have been extracted.

Moreover, the flash memory 25 may be also used as data storage. Theflash memory 25 is connected to the PC 100 so that the flash memory 25functions as removal medium for the PC 100. In the case where the flashmemory 25 is used as data storage, management of data file is performedby file system which has been read out from the program RAM/ROM 26 tothe CPU 27.

Further, the flash memory 25 that the recording medium 20 has maycomprise a memory area such that read-out operation of stored data canbe performed in accordance with fingerprint collation result based onfingerprint collation processing by the fingerprint reading sensor 23and the fingerprint collation LSI 24.

The CPU 27 executes firmware stored in the program RAM/ROM 26 tosupervisorily control the operation of the recording medium 20. The CPU27 executes fingerprint collation processing, or allows the recordingmedium 20 to function as data storage on the basis of firmware, forexample.

Moreover, as the USB device which is adapted to connect the connectorconverting device, there also exists, in addition to the above-describedrecording media 20, a recording medium 40 shown in FIG. 3 in whichfingerprint collation processing function of the recording medium 20 isexcluded to allow it to have only storage function so that more simpleconfiguration is provided.

The recording medium 40 shown in FIG. 3 comprises a USB interface 41, aUSB controller 42, a flash memory 43, a RAM/ROM 44 for program, and aCPU 45.

The USB controller 42, the flash memory 43, the program RAM/ROM 44 andthe CPU 45 are respectively connected through a bus 46.

It is to be noted that since the USB interface 41, the USB controller42, the flash memory 43, the program RAM/ROM 44 and the CPU 45 of therecording medium 40 respectively have exactly the same functions asthose of the USB interface 21, the USB controller 22, the flash memory25, the program RAM/ROM 26 and the CPU 27 that the above-describedrecording medium 20 has except for fingerprint collation processingfunction, their explanation will be omitted.

Furthermore, as USB device which is adapted to connect the connectorconverting device, there also exists, in addition to the recordingmedium 20 and the recording medium 40 which have been described above, arecording medium 50 constituted as shown in FIG. 4 in which, e.g.,memory card called memory stick (Registered Trademark) is connected tohave ability to perform data transmission/reception to and from theconnected memory card.

The recording medium 50 shown in FIG. 4 comprises a USB interface 51, aUSB controller 52, a flash memory 53, a RAM/ROM 54 for program, a CPU55, a memory card slot 56, a memory card interface 57, and a memorycontroller LSI 58.

The USB controller 52, the flash memory 53, the program RAM/ROM 54, theCPU 55, and the memory controller LSI 58 are respectively connectedthrough a bus 59.

Memory card (not shown) is loaded into the memory card slot 56 of therecording medium 50. The memory card comprises flash memory in a mannersimilar to the recording medium 50, thus to have ability to perform datatransmission/reception to and from external equipment. Since theconnection interface of the memory card is specific interface differentfrom USB, it is possible to perform data transmission/reception to andfrom only external equipment provided with interface dedicated formemory card.

When the memory card is loaded into the memory card slot 56, the memorycard serves to perform data transmission/reception to and from therecording medium 50 through the memory card interface 57. Datatransmission/reception of the memory card is controlled by the memorycontroller LSI 58.

In a manner as stated above, there are provided memory card slot 56,memory card interface 57 and memory controller LSI 58 at the recordingmedium 50 serving as USB device so that data transmission/receptionbetween the memory card of the interface different from USB and externalequipment having USB interface can be performed.

It is to be noted that since the USB interface 51, the USB controller52, the flash memory 53, the program RAM/ROM 54 and the CPU 55 of therecording medium 50 have exactly the same functions as those of the USBinterface 21, the USB controller 22, the flash memory 25, the programRAM/ROM 26 and the CPU 27 that the above-described recording medium 20has except for the fingerprint collation processing function, theirexplanation will be omitted.

In a manner as stated above, the USB device which is adapted to connectthe connector converting device is not limited to the above-describedrecording medium 20, there may be employed any USB devices having USBplug such as the recording medium 40 and/or the recording medium 50which are shown as an example.

For example, if USB plug is provided at portable (mobile) camera devicehaving image pick-up means, the connector converting device can beutilized. Thus, it is possible to perform transmission/reception ofimage data to and from PC, etc. serving as external unit through theconnector converting device and the USB cable.

In the following description, the USB connector converting device willbe explained by using recording medium 20 as USB device for convenienceof explanation.

Subsequently, the USB connector converting device to which the presentinvention has been applied will be explained. In the case where theabove-described recording medium 20 is used as a fingerprint collationprocessing unit as shown in FIG. 5, the recording medium 20 is connectedto the PC 100 through the USB connector converting device 10 and the USBcable 30.

As shown in FIG. 6, both ends of the USB cable 30 are plugs havingshapes different from each other, wherein one plug is called A type plug(or series A plug) and the other plug is called B type plug (series Bplug). In the USB cable 30, one plug is caused to be A type plug 31 andthe other plug is caused to be B type plug 32. Although not shown, theterminal shape of the A type plug 31 is rectangular, and the terminalshape of the B type plug 32 is trapezoidal. The A type plug 31 isconnected to the USB jack 101 of the PC 100.

In general, in the case where equipments are connected with the USBbeing as interface, data transfer may be executed, and/or power supplymay be performed by control of the host equipment. For this reason, itis required that host equipment such as PC and the USB device areclearly distinguished.

Accordingly, in order to clearly distinguish host equipment and USBdevice so that host equipments and/or USB devices are not connected toeach other, shapes of the connection given to the host equipment and theconnector given to the USB device are entirely different from eachother. Followed by this, connector shapes (plug shapes) of USB cableboth ends which connect the host equipment and the USB device aredifferent from each other as described above.

The A type plug 31 of the USB cable 30 is connected to the USB jack 101of the PC 100. On the other hand, since the B type plug 32 of the USBcable 30 cannot be connected to the USB plug 21 of the recording medium20, the B type plug 32 is connected through the USB connector convertingdevice 10.

As shown in FIG. 7A, in the case where the USB plug 21 of the recordingmedium 20 is the A type plug, the USB connector converting device 10 isprovided with USB jack 11 to which such plug is connected, and USB jack12 to which B type plug 32 of the USB cable 30 is connected.

FIG. 7B is a side view of the USB connector converting device 10. Asshown in FIG. 7B, the USB jack 11 and the USB jack 12 that the USBconnector converting device 10 has are mounted on a printed board 13 andare electrically connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the USB jack 11 is a connector for connecting theUSB plug 21 in the case of the A type plug. The front view of pluginsertion hole of the USB jack 11 is shown in FIG. 8B.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the USB jack 12 is a connector for connecting Btype plug 32 of the USB cable 30. The front view of plug insertion holeof the USB jack 12 is shown in FIG. 9B.

In a manner stated above, the USB connector converting device 10 iscaused to be of the configuration comprising USB jack 11 to which the Atype plug can be connected, and USB jack 12 to which the B type plug canbe connected. In the case where the USB plug 21 of the recording medium20 is the A type plug, the USB plug 21 is connected to the USB jack 11,thereby making it possible to connect the recording medium 20 and the PC100 through the USB cable 30.

In the case where the recording medium 20 is used as the fingerprintcollation processing unit, the recording medium 20 and the PC 100 areconnected through the USB cable 30 by using the USB connector convertingdevice 10, whereby user can freely move the recording medium 20 to theplace where he is easy to put the finger on the fingerprint readingsensor 23. Accordingly, reliable fingerprint collation can be performed,and damage of the USB jack 101 produced as the result of the fact thatthe recording medium 20 is directly connected to the USB jack 101 of thePC 100 can be prevented.

While the USB connector converting device 10 is provided with USB jack11 to which the A type plug can be connected and USB jack 12 to whichthe B type plug can be connected as described above, the presentinvention is not limited to the plug type of USB, but the presentinvention can be applied even if the plug type of the USB cable inconformity with the USB standard used for connection with the hostequipment and/or the plug type of the USB plug that the USB device hasis any type.

For example, as described above, there may be the case where the USBplug 21 of the recording medium 20 which is the USB device is the A typeplug, or there may be the case where such USB plug 21 is Mini-A typeplug. Accordingly, the USB connector converting device 10 may be also ofthe configuration comprising USB jack 61 to which Mini-A type plug asshown in the perspective view of FIG. 10A can be connected in place ofthe USB jack 11. The plug insertion hole of the USB jack 61 is shown inFIG. 10B

Moreover, it is not necessarily required that USB cable used inconnection with the PC 100 serving as external unit is USB cable 30provided, at both ends thereof, with A type plug 31 and B type plug 32.For example, there may be used USB cable respectively comprising, at theboth ends thereof, A type plug and Mini-B type plug, USB cablerespectively comprising, at both ends thereof, Mini-A type plug and Btype plug, and USB cable respectively comprising, at both ends thereof,Mini-A type plug and Mini-B type plug, etc.

Similarly to the Mini-A type plug, the Mini-B type plug is a plugprescribed by USB On-The-Go (OTG) which is the standard for directlyconnecting USB devices instituted by USB-IF (Universal Serial BusImplementers Forum). The Mini-B type plug has a shape smaller than thatof the B type plug. By using the Mini-B type plug, the USB device can beminiaturized.

In the case where the Mini-B type plug is used for the USB cable, theremay be also employed a configuration comprising USB jack 62 to whichMini-B type plug as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 11A can beconnected in place of the USB jack 12 of the USB connector convertingdevice 10 in accordance therewith. The front view of plug insertion holeof the USB jack 62 is shown in FIG. 11B.

Combination of USB jacks 11, 12, 61, 62 that the USB connectorconverting device 10 has can be changed in accordance with the plug typeof the USB plug 21 of the recording medium 20 and the plug type of theUSB cable used for connection with the PC 100.

For example, in the case where the USB plug 21 of the recording medium20 is the A type plug, and the USB cable is provided with the Mini-Btype plug, the USB connector converting device 10 is adapted to compriseUSB jack 11 corresponding to the A type plug and USB jack 62corresponding to Mini-B type plug.

Moreover, in the case where the USB plug 21 of the recording medium 20is the Mini-A type plug, and the USB cable is provided with the B typeplug, the USB connector converting device 10 is adapted to comprise USBjack 61 corresponding to the Mini-A type plug, and USB jack 12corresponding to the B type.

Furthermore, in the case where the USB plug 21 of the recording medium20 is the Mini-A type plug, and the USB cable has Mini-B type plug, theUSB plug 21 may comprise a USB jack 63 shown in the perspective view ofFIG. 12A which can be connected to both the Mini-A plug type and theMini-B plug type which are prescribed by the above-described USBON-The-Go (OTG). The front view of plug insertion hole of the USB jack63 is shown in FIG. 12B.

The USB jack 63 which can be connected to both the Mini-A plug type andthe Mini-B plug type is a connector used in the case where USB deviceprimarily clearly differently classified (positioned) from the hostequipment is caused to have function of the host equipment, etc. The USBdevice having functions of the host equipment and the peripheralequipment in this way is called Dual role Device.

In the case where USB devices functioning as such Dual role Device areconnected to each other, the USB connector converting device 10 iscaused to comprise USB jack 63, e.g., in connection between printerprovided with USB jack and USB plug serving as Mini-A type plug, therebypermitting connection by the USB cable.

Meanwhile, since the USB plug 21 that the recording medium 20 has is themale type connector, the USB plug 21 is projected from the recordingmedium 20. However, the USB connector converting device 10 is loadedinto the recording medium 20, thereby also making it possible to protectthe USB plug 21. Namely, the USB connector converting device 10 alsofunctions as protective cap in carrying recording medium 20 having highportability.

Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, a stabilization table 14 isprovided at the bottom surface of the USB connector converting device10, thereby making it possible to stabilize placing of finger inperforming fingerprint collation processing at the recording medium 20.

In the case where the USB connector converting device 10 is connected tothe recording medium 20 to mount (place) finger onto the fingerprintreading sensor 23, the stabilization table 14 provided at the USBconnector converting device 10 has such dimensions to support thesurface opposite to the fingerprint reading sensor 23.

FIG. 13B and 13C are side views of the USB connector converting device10 showing variations of shapes of the stabilization table 14.

FIGS. 13B shows the case where the stabilization table 14 is constructedas a flat plate, wherein when the USB connector converting device 10 isconnected to the recording medium 20, the fingerprint reading sensor 23is disposed on the upper surface thereof.

FIG. 13C shows that the stabilization table 14 has a shape caused tohave an angle to a little degree, wherein when the USB connectorconverting device 10 is connected to the recording medium 20, since thefingerprint reading sensor 23 is disposed in the state inclined in userdirection by the above-mentioned angle, placing of finger can be morefacilitated and can be stabilized.

It should be noted that while the recording medium 20 shown as anexample of the USB device which is adapted to connect the USB connectorconverting device 10 shown as the best mode for carrying out theinvention is caused to be of the configuration having fingerprintcollation processing function, the recording medium is not limited tosuch recording medium 20, but recording medium may have certificationprocessing function by bio-information except for fingerprint.

It is to be noted that while the present invention has been described inaccordance with certain preferred embodiments thereof illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described in the above description in detail,it should be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art that theinvention is not limited to embodiments, but various modifications,alternative constructions or equivalents can be implemented withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present invention as setforth by appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the USB connector converting device according to thepresent invention permits the external unit and the USB equipment to beconnected through the USB cable, thereby making it possible to easilyconnect USB equipment having first USB plug in which connection to theexternal unit has been difficult to the external unit through normal USBcable determined by the standard. Further, precise bio-certificationprocessing can be executed at the time of certification processing bybio-certification processing means of the recording media.

1. A USB connector converting device connected to a USB equipmentserving as data input/output interface to and from an external unit, andhaving a first USB (Universal Serial Bus) plug of which shape is suchthat connection can be made with respect to an equipment having hostfunction, and which can be directly connected to the host equipmentwithout intervention of a cable; the USB connector converting devicecomprising: a first USB jack to which the first USB plug is connected;and a second USB jack to which a second USB plug which can be connectedto a device equipment with a shape different from the shape of the firstUSB plug provided at the other end of a USB cable having, one endthereof, a plug of which shape is the same as that of the first USB plugis connected, wherein the first USB jack and the second USB jack areelectrically connected.
 2. The USB connector converting device as setforth in claim 1, wherein the USB equipment having the first USB plugconnected to the first USB jack is a portable recording medium includingmemory means for performing management of data by a predetermined filesystem to store the data.
 3. A USB connector converting device adaptedto be connected to portable recording media, including a first USB plugof which shape is such that connection can be made with respect to anequipment serving as data input/output interface to and from an externalunit, having host function, and which can be directly connected to thehost equipment without intervention of a cable, the memory means beingsuch that data caused to undergo management by a predetermined filesystem and template data obtained by extracting feature portions offingerprint image are stored, and fingerprint collation processing meansfor performing comparative collation between fingerprint read data froma fingerprint read data from a fingerprint sensor and the template data,the USB connector converting device comprising: a first USB jack towhich the first USB plug is connected; and a second USB jack to which asecond USB plug which can be connected to a device equipment with ashape different from the shape of the first USB plug provided at theother end of a USB cable having, at one end thereof, a plug of whichshape is the same as that of the first USB plug is connected, whereinthe first USB jack and the second USB jack are electrically connected.4. The USB connector converting device as set forth in claim 3, whereinthe USB connector converting device is connected to portable recordingmedia in which the data caused to undergo management by the file systemthat each portable recording medium has is permitted to be read out bycollation result of the fingerprint collation means.
 5. The USBconnector converting device as set forth in claim 3, wherein in the casewhere the bio-certification processing means that the recording mediumhas is adapted so that fingerprint information is caused to be thebio-information, and the recording medium includes the fingerprintsensor for allowing user to mount or put finger thereon to acquirefingerprint information, the USB connector converting device comprises astabilization member for supporting plane opposite to the fingerprintsensor when the USB connector converting device is connected to therecording medium to mount or put finger onto the fingerprint sensor.